Woytopia - what a great day

Here are The Tangeloes (well, most of us) singing at Woytopia, Woy Woy South Public School's annual eco-fair.  What a great event.

Here's our adoring public (only a little bit stacked with rellies and friends).  Great to see some of my younger students watching (from baby/children's music classes at Beachside, and even the Empire Bay school choir).  So great for them to witness grown-ups participating in singing and so obviously having enormous fun with it.

"Isingonthecake" busking at Eveleigh Markets

Here's a vid of us at the food markets, busking to raise money for the Cambodia Children's Trust (that's what Stuart has taped to his back).  It was a little vocally taxing to sing above the noise of the markets, but great fun.



Lots of kids came to watch and it was funny to see their reactions.  The kid in the blue cap looked completely mesmerised, as if he'd never seen anything like us before.  He followed us around to all the different spots.  Another little girl really got into it, dancing around.

We raised $415 for the Trust.

What every singer already knew....

Research has shown that putting your feelings into words, or singing about them, helps you cope better with life. It makes you calmer and gives you more self control. Anyone who has ever sung about new love or lost love or anger or despair or dizzy happiness knows this already!

In another colllision of art and science, a New Scientist article argues that when a group of people synchronises its movements or speech (or singing, I presume) the individuals in the group feel a heightened sense of belonging. This helps explain how dictators control the populace. It may also explain why I travel 90 k every Thursday night to rehearse with my fellow choir members!

So to conclude, groups who gather to move and sing together feel good and bond well. As far as I'm concerned it's not rocket science, but it is wonderful.

Thanks Sandy for the first link.

Image: 'Bearded Singer'
www.flickr.com/photos/35237096343@N01/184460005